title: Cystic hygroma detected in the first trimester scan in Hong Kong.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the outcome of fetuses with cystic hygroma (CH) diagnosed at the first trimester from a general population in Hong Kong.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective study of 30 fetal cystic hygroma detected at 11 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation in 8835 sequential unselected pregnancies. Fetal cystic hygroma was categorized as isolated cystic hygroma (ICH) or associated cystic hygroma (ACH) according to the presence of associated multiple congenital structural abnormalities (MCA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 10 cases of ICH and 20 cases of ACH. The karyotypes were obtained in 29 cases. In the ICH, 30% (3/10) were associated with chromosomal abnormalities. In the ACH, 65% (13/20) were associated with major chromosomal abnormalities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that the prognosis of cystic hygroma detected in the first trimester is guarded, with high incidence of MCA (66.7%, 20/30) and chromosomal abnormalities (53.3%, 16/30). The findings support detailed ultrasound examination and invasive prenatal diagnosis for cystic hygroma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Fetal Medicine and Prenatal Diagnosis, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou , China .
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chin Peng
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sheng Mou
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yung Hang
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Rebecca Yuet Kiu
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Hei Yee
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Tse
authors.forename: Mary Hoi Yin
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D025063:Chromosome Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015160:Hydrops Fetalis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007621:Karyotyping; D018191:Lymphangioma, Cystic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies